Netminder Jari Kaarela played two years in North America during the early 1980s but was better known for his work for local teams in Finland. Since his five-game NHL tenure was spent with the Colorado Rockies, he received a fair amount of work in his brief NHL career.

Born in Tampere, Finland, Kaarela played for the SaiPa Lapeenranta team in the Finnish second division before coming to North America in 1980. He signed with the Fort Worth Texans of the CHL and posted a respectable 3.81 goals against average. Kaarela caught the eye of the Colorado Rockies' scouts and was inked to a short-term deal in February 1981.

Kaarela posted a 2-2-0 record and a 6.00 goals-against mark while appearing briefly for the woeful Rockies in late in the 1980-81 season. The next year he was a workhorse for the IHL's Muskegon Mohawks. Kaarela registered a 4.90 goals-against average in 49 games then suited up for two more games as an emergency fill-in for Fort Worth. He returned to Finland in 1982 and played in the domestic league until he retired after the 1985-86 season.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

W

L

T

SO

Avg

GP

W

L

T

SO

Avg

1978-79

SaPKo Savonlinna

Finland-2

1979-80

SaPKo Savonlinna

Finland-2

1980-81

Fort Worth Texans

CHL

36

13

20

2

1

3.81

1980-81

Colorado Rockies

NHL

5

2

2

0

0

6.00

1980-81

Indianapolis Checkers

CHL

2

2

0

0

1

2.00

1981-82

Muskegon Mohawks

IHL

49

1

4.90

1981-82

Fort Worth Texans

CHL

2

0

2

0

0

6.50

1982-83

Kiekkoreipas Lahti

Finland

3

0

1983-84

Karpat Oulu

Finland

6

0

1

0

1984-85

HIFK Helsinki

Finland

15

1

1985-86

HIFK Helsinki

Finland

14

2

1986-87

LaKi Vantaa

Finland-3

1987-88

LaKi Vantaa

Finland-3

1988-89

1989-90

Vantaa HT

Finland-3

NHL Totals

5

2

2

0

0

6.00

Signed as a free agent by Colorado, February 9, 1981. Traded to NY Islanders by Colorado with Mike McEwen for Glenn Resch and Steve Tambellini, March 10, 1981.